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Research Studies is a monthly compilation of research articles funded by AHRQ or authored by AHRQ researchers and recently published in journals or newsletters.
Results
1 to 25 of 65 Research Studies Displayed
Chow JY, Nijhawan AE, Mathews WC
Hospitalization rates among persons with HIV who gained Medicaid or private insurance after the Affordable Care Act in 2014.
The purpose of this study was to investigate whether gaining inpatient healthcare coverage had an effect on hospitalization rates among persons with HIV following implementation of the Affordable Care Act in 2014. Hospitalization data from 2015 were obtained on adults receiving longitudinal care at HIV clinics; all patients were previously uninsured and supported by the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program (RWHAP) in 2013. Findings showed that acquiring inpatient coverage was not associated with a change in hospitalization rates.
AHRQ-funded; 290201100007C.
Citation:
Chow JY, Nijhawan AE, Mathews WC .
Hospitalization rates among persons with HIV who gained Medicaid or private insurance after the Affordable Care Act in 2014.
J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr 2021 Jun 1;87(2):776-80. doi: 10.1097/qai.0000000000002645..
Keywords:
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Hospitalization, Medicaid, Health Insurance, Access to Care, Policy
Anderson KE, Shugarman LR, Davenport K
Regulation of provider networks in response to COVID-19.
The authors anticipate that the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic will have 3 main effects on provider networks and their regulation: enrollment changes, changes to the provider landscape, and changes to care delivery. They suggested that telehealth will have a larger role in care delivery than in the pre-pandemic period, and that regulators will need to adapt network standards to accommodate in-person and virtual care delivery.
AHRQ-funded; HS000029.
Citation:
Anderson KE, Shugarman LR, Davenport K .
Regulation of provider networks in response to COVID-19.
Am J Manag Care 2021 Apr;27(4):e101-e04. doi: 10.37765/ajmc.2021.88614..
Keywords:
Health Insurance, Policy, Access to Care, Healthcare Delivery, COVID-19
Valdez RS, Roger CC, Claypool H
Ensuring full participation of people with disabilities in an era of telehealth.
This paper discusses the benefits and drawbacks that the widespread use of telehealth resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic has on people with disabilities. For some it may result in reduced barriers to care, but for others inadequate attention to the design, implementation, and policy dimensions may be detrimental.
AHRQ-funded; HS023849.
Citation:
Valdez RS, Roger CC, Claypool H .
Ensuring full participation of people with disabilities in an era of telehealth.
J Am Med Inform Assoc 2021 Feb 15;28(2):389-92. doi: 10.1093/jamia/ocaa297..
Keywords:
Disabilities, Telehealth, Health Information Technology (HIT), Access to Care, Policy, COVID-19
Polsky D, Wu B
Provider networks and health plan premium variation.
The purpose of this study was to examine how plan premiums are associated with physician network breadth, hospital network breadth, and hospital network quality on the Affordable Care Act's Health Insurance Marketplaces in all 50 states and the DC in 2016. The investigators concluded that physician network breadth and hospital network breadth contributed positively to plan premiums.
AHRQ-funded; HS025976.
Citation:
Polsky D, Wu B .
Provider networks and health plan premium variation.
Health Serv Res 2021 Feb;56(1):16-24. doi: 10.1111/1475-6773.13447..
Keywords:
Health Insurance, Healthcare Costs, Policy, Access to Care
Herb JN, Wolff RT, McDaniel PM
Travel time to radiation oncology facilities in the United States and the influence of Certificate of Need Policies.
The authors’ goal was to evaluate travel times to US radiation oncology (RO) facilities and to assess the association with Certificate of Need (CON) policies. RO facilities were identified from the 2018 National Plan and Provider Enumeration System. They found that isolated rural US census tracts, accounting for 9.4 million Americans, have nearly 1-hour longer adjusted travel time to the nearest RO facility, compared with urban tracts. CON laws had region-dependent associations with prolonged travel.
AHRQ-funded; HS000032.
Citation:
Herb JN, Wolff RT, McDaniel PM .
Travel time to radiation oncology facilities in the United States and the influence of Certificate of Need Policies.
International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology, Physics 2021 Feb;109(2):344-51. doi: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2020.08.059..
Keywords:
Cancer, Rural Health, Access to Care, Policy
Fung V, Price M, Hull P
Assessment of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act's increase in fees for primary care and access to care for dual-eligible beneficiaries.
The purpose of this study was to examine the association between the Affordable Care Act (ACA) fee bump and primary care visits for dual-eligible Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries. Medicare claims data from 2012 to 2016 was used. Findings showed that the ACA fee bump was not associated with increases in primary care visits for dual-eligible Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries. Additionally, visits for dual-eligible beneficiaries with primary care physicians decreased after the ACA, a decrease that was partially offset by increases in visits with nonphysician clinicians.
AHRQ-funded; HS024725; HS025378.
Citation:
Fung V, Price M, Hull P .
Assessment of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act's increase in fees for primary care and access to care for dual-eligible beneficiaries.
JAMA Netw Open 2021 Jan;4(1):e2033424. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.33424..
Keywords:
Access to Care, Medicaid, Medicare, Health Insurance, Healthcare Costs, Policy
Hatch B, Hoopes M, Darney BG
Impacts of the Affordable Care Act on receipt of women's preventive services in Community Health Centers in Medicaid expansion and nonexpansion states.
Researchers assessed whether ACA implementation and Medicaid expansion were followed by greater receipt of recommended preventive services among women and girls in a large network of community health centers. Data was collected from electronic health records in 14 states. The researchers found that among female patients at community health centers, receipt of recommended preventive care improved after ACA implementation in both Medicaid expansion and non-expansion states, although the overall rates remained low. They recommended continued support to overcome barriers to preventive care in this population.
AHRQ-funded; HS025155.
Citation:
Hatch B, Hoopes M, Darney BG .
Impacts of the Affordable Care Act on receipt of women's preventive services in Community Health Centers in Medicaid expansion and nonexpansion states.
Womens Health Issues 2021 Jan-Feb;31(1):9-16. doi: 10.1016/j.whi.2020.08.011..
Keywords:
Cancer, Medicaid, Health Insurance, Uninsured, Access to Care, Policy, Cancer: Cervical Cancer, Prevention, Women, Healthcare Utilization
Hammad Mrig E
Integrating fundamental cause theory and Bourdieu to explain pathways between socioeconomic status and health: the case of health insurance denials for genetic testing.
This paper proposes that Pierre Bourdieu's theories of capital and symbolic power can be integrated with fundamental cause theory to address limitations in the latter theory, making it more useful in health disparities research. This work deepens appreciation for the durable relationship between socioeconomic status and health. Study results reveal the multiple and complex mechanisms that play a role in access to healthcare services, which has significant implications for how we think about the role of health policy in addressing health disparities.
AHRQ-funded; HS017589.
Citation:
Hammad Mrig E .
Integrating fundamental cause theory and Bourdieu to explain pathways between socioeconomic status and health: the case of health insurance denials for genetic testing.
Sociol Health Illn 2021 Jan;43(1):133-48. doi: 10.1111/1467-9566.13195..
Keywords:
Social Determinants of Health, Disparities, Health Insurance, Access to Care, Genetics, Policy
Myong C, Hull P, Price M
The impact of funding for federally qualified health centers on utilization and emergency department visits in Massachusetts.
This retrospective study examined the impact of funding for federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) on utilization and emergency department (ED) visits in Massachusetts. The authors theorized that greater funding for FQHCs could increase the local availability of clinic-based care and reduce more costly resource use, such as ED visits. Data from the Massachusetts All Payer Claims Database (APCD) 2010-2013 was used that included enrollees in 559 Massachusetts ZIP codes (2010 numbers 6,173,563). They calculated shift-share predictions of changes in FQHC funding at the ZIP code-level for FQHCs that received Community Health Center funds in any year. They found that a standard deviation increase in prior year FQHC funding (31%) was associated with a 2.3% increase in enrollees with FQHC visits and a 1.3% decrease in enrollees at EDs. However, there were no significant changes in emergent ED visit rates.
AHRQ-funded; HS025378.
Citation:
Myong C, Hull P, Price M .
The impact of funding for federally qualified health centers on utilization and emergency department visits in Massachusetts.
PLoS One 2020 Dec 3;15(12):e0243279. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0243279..
Keywords:
Community-Based Practice, Healthcare Utilization, Emergency Department, Healthcare Costs, Access to Care, Vulnerable Populations, Policy
Friedman S, Xu H, Azocar F
Carve-out plan financial requirements associated with national behavioral health parity.
The authors examined changes in carve-out financial requirements following the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA). They found that the MHPAEA was associated with increased generosity in most observed financial requirements, but increased use of deductibles may have reduced generosity for some patients.
AHRQ-funded; HS024866.
Citation:
Friedman S, Xu H, Azocar F .
Carve-out plan financial requirements associated with national behavioral health parity.
Health Serv Res 2020 Dec;55(6):924-31. doi: 10.1111/1475-6773.13542..
Keywords:
Behavioral Health, Healthcare Costs, Health Insurance, Access to Care, Policy
Larson AE, Hoopes M, Angier H
Private/marketplace insurance in community health centers 5 years post-affordable care act in Medicaid expansion and non-expansion states.
This study compared differences in private/marketplace insurance in community health centers (CHCs) 5 years post-Affordable Care Act (ACA) in Medicaid expansion and non-expansion states. Electronic health record data from 702,663 patients in clinics across 20 states was used to explore trends in private/market insurance post-expansion and whether CHC patients retain private/marketplace insurance. The authors found that patients in non-expansion state CHCs relied more heavily on private/marketplace insurance than patients in expansive states and had increased visits from 2014 through 2018. There was a more pronounced seasonal variation in private/marketplace-insured visits too. A greater percentage of those who in non-expansion states did not retain private/marketplace insurance become uninsured, while those in expansion states gained other types of health insurance.
AHRQ-funded; HS024270.
Citation:
Larson AE, Hoopes M, Angier H .
Private/marketplace insurance in community health centers 5 years post-affordable care act in Medicaid expansion and non-expansion states.
Prev Med 2020 Dec;141:106271. doi: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2020.106271..
Keywords:
Medicaid, Health Insurance, Access to Care, Policy
Hudson JL, Moriya AS
The role of marketplace policy on welcome mat effects for children eligible for Medicaid or the Children's Health Insurance Program.
This study examined the role of marketplace policy on “welcome mat” effects for children eligible for Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). Data from the American Community Survey from 2013-2018 was used to estimate the relationship between Marketplace policy and increases in Medicaid/CHIP coverage among pre-ACA eligible children after the implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The sample included non-disabled citizen children ages 0-18 at 139-250% federal poverty level who were Medicaid/CHIP-eligible before and after implementation of the ACA. Marketplace policies and enrollment were compared in expansion states versus non-expansion states. Public coverage did increase more in states that empowered their Marketplace to enroll publicly-eligible applicants directly into Medicaid/CHIP. This was driven by enrollment policy, not by choice of state-based versus federal-based Marketplaces. Welcome mats were largest in expansion states and increases ranged from 9 to 13 percentage points in enrollment.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation:
Hudson JL, Moriya AS .
The role of marketplace policy on welcome mat effects for children eligible for Medicaid or the Children's Health Insurance Program.
Inquiry 2020 Jan-Dec;57:46958020952920. doi: 10.1177/0046958020952920..
Keywords:
Children/Adolescents, Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), Medicaid, Health Insurance, Policy, Uninsured, Access to Care
Wisk LE, Peltz A, Galbraith AA
Changes in health care-related financial burden for US families with children associated with the Affordable Care Act.
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) sought to improve access and affordability of health insurance. Although most ACA policies targeted childless adults, the extent to which these policies also impacted families with children remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to examine changes in health care-related financial burden for US families with children before and after the ACA was implemented based on income eligibility for ACA policies.
AHRQ-funded; HS024700.
Citation:
Wisk LE, Peltz A, Galbraith AA .
Changes in health care-related financial burden for US families with children associated with the Affordable Care Act.
JAMA Pediatr 2020 Nov;174(11):1032-40. doi: 10.1001/jamapediatrics.2020.3973..
Keywords:
Children/Adolescents, Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), Healthcare Costs, Health Insurance, Policy, Access to Care
Khouja T, Burgette JM, Donohue JM
Association between Medicaid expansion, dental coverage policies for adults, and children's receipt of preventive dental services.
Researchers examined whether low-income children's use of preventive dental services is linked to variation in state Medicaid policies that affect parents' access to dental care in Medicaid. Using MEPS data along with Area Health Resources File and Medicaid adult dental coverage policies, they found no change in children's receipt of preventive dental care associated with Medicaid expansions in states that covered vs did not cover preventive dental services for adults. They concluded that factors other than parental access to dental benefits through Medicaid may be more salient determinants of preventive dental care use among low-income children.
AHRQ-funded; HS026727.
Citation:
Khouja T, Burgette JM, Donohue JM .
Association between Medicaid expansion, dental coverage policies for adults, and children's receipt of preventive dental services.
Health Serv Res 2020 Oct;55(5):642-50. doi: 10.1111/1475-6773.13324..
Keywords:
Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), Children/Adolescents, Dental and Oral Health, Medicaid, Health Insurance, Low-Income, Access to Care, Policy
Cha P, Brindis CD
Early Affordable Care Act Medicaid: coverage effects for low- and moderate-income young adults.
This study examined the effects of early Medicaid expansions on low- and moderate-income young adults. They used the American Community Survey 2008-2013 to study three early expansion states: California, Connecticut and Minnesota. Results shows that Medicaid expansion reduced uninsurance in all three states and increased public insurance in California and Minnesota. Young men benefitted more than young women, who historically tend to be uninsured.
AHRQ-funded; HS022241.
Citation:
Cha P, Brindis CD .
Early Affordable Care Act Medicaid: coverage effects for low- and moderate-income young adults.
J Adolesc Health 2020 Sep;67(3):425-31. doi: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2020.05.029..
Keywords:
Young Adults, Policy, Medicaid, Uninsured, Access to Care
Zuvekas SH, McClellan CB, Ali MM
Medicaid expansion and health insurance coverage and treatment utilization among individuals with a mental health condition.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation:
Zuvekas SH, McClellan CB, Ali MM .
Medicaid expansion and health insurance coverage and treatment utilization among individuals with a mental health condition.
J Ment Health Policy Econ 2020 Sep 1;23(3):151-82..
Keywords:
Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), Behavioral Health, Medicaid, Health Insurance, Access to Care, Healthcare Utilization, Policy, Uninsured
Maclean JC, Halpern MT, Hill SC
The effect of Medicaid expansion on prescriptions for breast cancer hormonal therapy medications.
The purpose of this study was to quantify the effects of the Affordable Care Act Medicaid expansion on prescriptions for effective breast cancer hormonal therapies (tamoxifen and aromatase inhibitors) among Medicaid enrollees. Data from the Medicaid State Drug Utilization Database was used. Findings showed that Medicaid expansion may have had a meaningful impact on the ability of lower-income women to access effective hormonal therapies used to treat breast cancer.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation:
Maclean JC, Halpern MT, Hill SC .
The effect of Medicaid expansion on prescriptions for breast cancer hormonal therapy medications.
Health Serv Res 2020 Jun;55(3):399-410. doi: 10.1111/1475-6773.13289..
Keywords:
Medicaid, Cancer: Breast Cancer, Cancer, Medication, Policy, Women, Healthcare Utilization, Access to Care, Health Insurance
Bailey SR, Marino M, Ezekiel-Herrera D
Tobacco cessation in Affordable Care Act Medicaid expansion states versus non-expansion states.
This study examined whether states that expanded Medicaid eligibility under the ACA had increased smoking quit rates, tobacco cessation medication orders, and greater health care utilization compared to patients in non-expansion states. The researchers used electronic health record (EHR) data from 219 community health centers (CHCs) in 10 states that expanded Medicaid as of January 2014. They identified patients aged 19-64 with tobacco use status in their records within six months prior to ACA Medicaid expansion and 1 or more visits. They found that patients in expansion states had increased adjusted odds of quitting, having a medication ordered and having follow-up visits compared to patients in non-expansion states.
AHRQ-funded; HS024270.
Citation:
Bailey SR, Marino M, Ezekiel-Herrera D .
Tobacco cessation in Affordable Care Act Medicaid expansion states versus non-expansion states.
Nicotine Tob Res 2020 Jun;22(6):1016-22. doi: 10.1093/ntr/ntz087..
Keywords:
Tobacco Use: Smoking Cessation, Tobacco Use, Substance Abuse, Medication, Medicaid, Policy, Healthcare Utilization, Access to Care, Health Insurance
Cook BL, Flores M, Zuvekas SH
The impact Of Medicare's mental health cost-sharing parity on use of mental health care services.
This study examined the impact of Medicare’s mental health cost-sharing parity on use of mental health care services, which was phased in from 2010 to 2014. The authors assessed whether the reduction in mental health cost sharing was associated with changes in specialty and primary care outpatient mental health visits and psychotropic medication fills. They compared people with Medicare and private insurance before and after implementation. Medicare beneficiaries’ use of psychotropic medication increased after implementation but there was not a detectable change in visits.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation:
Cook BL, Flores M, Zuvekas SH .
The impact Of Medicare's mental health cost-sharing parity on use of mental health care services.
Health Aff 2020 May;39(5):819-27. doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.2019.01008..
Keywords:
Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), Medicare, Behavioral Health, Healthcare Costs, Policy, Health Insurance, Healthcare Utilization, Access to Care
Tilhou AS, Huguet N, DeVoe J
The Affordable Care Act Medicaid Expansion positively impacted community health centers and their patients.
In this paper, the investigators summarized their results to-date as experts in investigating the impact of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) Medicaid expansion on Community Health Centers (CHCs) and the patients they serve. They found the ACA Medicaid expansion increased access to care and preventive services, primarily in Medicaid expansion states. Rates of physical and mental health conditions rose substantially from pre- to post-ACA in expansion states, suggesting underdiagnosis pre-ACA.
AHRQ-funded; HS024270.
Citation:
Tilhou AS, Huguet N, DeVoe J .
The Affordable Care Act Medicaid Expansion positively impacted community health centers and their patients.
J Gen Intern Med 2020 Apr;35(4):1292-95. doi: 10.1007/s11606-019-05571-w..
Keywords:
Policy, Medicaid, Access to Care, Uninsured, Health Insurance
Gordon SH, Sommers BD, Wilson IB
Effects of Medicaid expansion on postpartum coverage and outpatient utilization.
Timely postpartum care is associated with lower maternal morbidity and mortality, yet fewer than half of Medicaid beneficiaries attend a postpartum visit. Using Medicaid claims data for 2013-2015 from Colorado, which expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act, and Utah, which did not, the authors conclude that expansion may promote the stability of postpartum coverage and increase the use of postpartum outpatient care in the Medicaid program.
AHRQ-funded; HS025560.
Citation:
Gordon SH, Sommers BD, Wilson IB .
Effects of Medicaid expansion on postpartum coverage and outpatient utilization.
Health Aff 2020 Jan;39(1):77-84. doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.2019.00547..
Keywords:
Medicaid, Pregnancy, Women, Access to Care, Maternal Care, Ambulatory Care and Surgery, Policy, Healthcare Delivery
Hassmiller Lich K, O'Leary MC, Nambiar S
Estimating the impact of insurance expansion on colorectal cancer and related costs in North Carolina: a population-level simulation analysis.
Researchers used microsimulation to estimate the health and financial effects of insurance expansion and reduction scenarios in North Carolina (NC) for colorectal cancer screening (CRC). The full lifetime of a simulated population of residents age-eligible for CRC screening (aged 50-75) during a 5-year period were simulated. Findings indicate that the estimated cost savings--balancing increased CRC screening/testing costs against decreased cancer treatment costs--were approximately $30 M and $970 M for Medicaid expansion and Medicare-for-all scenarios, respectively, compared to status quo. The researchers concluded that insurance expansion will likely improve CRC screening both overall and in underserved populations while saving money, with the largest savings realized by Medicare.
AHRQ-funded; HS022981.
Citation:
Hassmiller Lich K, O'Leary MC, Nambiar S .
Estimating the impact of insurance expansion on colorectal cancer and related costs in North Carolina: a population-level simulation analysis.
Prev Med 2019 Dec;129s:105847. doi: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2019.105847..
Keywords:
Health Insurance, Cancer: Colorectal Cancer, Cancer, Healthcare Costs, Screening, Prevention, Medicaid, Medicare, Policy, Access to Care
Nguyen KH, Trivedi AN
Asian American access to care in the Affordable Care Act era: findings from a population-based survey in California.
This study compared coverage and access to care between non-Hispanic White and Asian American adults after the ACA in California. The data was disaggregated into the five most populous ethnic subgroups (Chinese, Korean, Filipino, Vietnamese, and Japanese). The outcomes measured were 1) being uninsured, 2) having a usual source of care, 3) delaying necessary medical care, and 4) delaying necessary prescription medications. The sample included 19,201 non-Hispanic White and 3077 Asian American adults aged 18 to 64 in California. Koreans were significantly less likely to report a usual source of care relative to non-Hispanic whites while Chinese and Vietnamese adults were significantly less likely to delay necessary care.
AHRQ-funded; HS000011.
Citation:
Nguyen KH, Trivedi AN .
Asian American access to care in the Affordable Care Act era: findings from a population-based survey in California.
J Gen Intern Med 2019 Nov;34(11):2660-68. doi: 10.1007/s11606-019-05328-5..
Keywords:
Racial / Ethnic Minorities, Access to Care, Disparities, Health Insurance, Uninsured, Policy
Springer R, Marino M,, Bailey SR
Prescription opioid use patterns, use disorder diagnoses and addiction treatment receipt after the 2014 Medicaid expansion in Oregon.
This study compared the prevalence of receipt of opioid prescriptions and opioid use disorder (OUD), along with time from OUD diagnosis to medication-assisted treatment (MAT) receipt between Oregon residents who had been continuously insured by Medicaid, were newly insured after Medicaid expansion in 2014 or returned to Medicaid coverage after expansion.
AHRQ-funded; HS024270.
Citation:
Springer R, Marino M,, Bailey SR .
Prescription opioid use patterns, use disorder diagnoses and addiction treatment receipt after the 2014 Medicaid expansion in Oregon.
Addiction 2019 Oct;114(10):1775-84. doi: 10.1111/add.14667..
Keywords:
Opioids, Medication, Substance Abuse, Medicaid, Practice Patterns, Health Insurance, Access to Care, Policy
Holderness H, Angier H, Huguet N
Where do Oregon Medicaid Enrollees seek outpatient care post-Affordable Care Act Medicaid expansion?
The purpose of this study was to understand where Oregon Medicaid beneficiaries sought care after the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act Medicaid expansion (emergency department, primary care, or specialist) and the interaction between primary care establishment and outpatient care utilization. Results showed that most newly and returning-insured Medicaid enrollees sought primary care rather than emergency department services and most became established with primary care, suggesting that both insurance and primary care continuity play a role in where patients seek health care services.
AHRQ-funded; HS024270.
Citation:
Holderness H, Angier H, Huguet N .
Where do Oregon Medicaid Enrollees seek outpatient care post-Affordable Care Act Medicaid expansion?
Med Care 2019 Oct;57(10):788-94. doi: 10.1097/mlr.0000000000001189..
Keywords:
Access to Care, Ambulatory Care and Surgery, Health Insurance, Healthcare Utilization, Medicaid, Policy
